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Hi guy's i'm new around here.................so please be gentle with me.......

We thats the wife and I have done many years caravaning and enjoyed it so much over the years, although we feel its time for a change and fancy trying a motorhome we haven't got a huge amout too spend at least  not in motorhome language anyway............. £10.000 is certainly a lot too me we are currently looking at a Hymer B544 on a 89 plate from a dealer i'm not comfortble handing that sort of money to someone of the street so i don't want to buy private.

My questions are have any of you got serious issues with this type of van and are there any obvious gripes i should look out for when looking at this sort of van.

The other is that it also has three lap belts fitted in the rear of this vehichle and are wonderig if its has been done as bodged job if they all came like that or where the safest anchorage points are too check it has been done properly

And also if anyone knows of any companies that check motorhomes over for realistic prices i had a quote of the RAC for this and it was £398 pouns and if i end up lookiking at three or four vans it would seriously eat into our budget........

Any way best regards to you all Garry

Hi Garry

Welcome to UKCS

Sorry cant help with info on Hymer as we have a van conversion.

When we were looking we found there was lots of very low milage coach built MH for sale as folk dont tend to use them for running around in.

You will pay alot more through a dealer.

Jen

We have a Hymer 544 but it's this years.  Have been away every weekend since pick up date in February plus school holidays and love it.  Good choice.  Don't know about the lap belts though sorry.

Welcome to the site.

Paula

Quote: Originally posted by PCI75 on 07/6/2006

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We have a Hymer 544 but it's this years.  Have been away every weekend since pick up date in February plus school holidays and love it.  Good choice.  Don't know about the lap belts though sorry.

Welcome to the site.

Paula

 

very nice..............how do you find it for size as in driving?........

 

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Hi there....like you, we had many years with caravans, but about 3 years ago we decided to try a motor home, as we didn't want to run a large towing car. We bought one fairly quickly, without too much research, an old Pilote. We knew straight away that a motor home was right for us, and we have done many thousands of miles in it since then, including 10 weeks touring France and Spain. We decided to up-grade to a newer van, and one with a better lay-out than ours for 2 people. We did loads of research, and last summer while working at a caravan park we spoke to loads of people about their vans, and decided that a Hymer 544 was exactly right for us. We never met anyone who was not thrilled with theirs whatever age. While looking for a 544 of the right age and price, we eventually bought a Hymer 520, similar size, different lay-out, and we are delighted with the build quality of it, we are real Hymer fans now! We bought ours privately, and it was cheaper than others at dealers, but we don't have the comfort of a guarantee. Good luck in your search....Pat

thanks for all the info and encouragement guy's an girls

i'll keep you all posted any advacements

and if and when we get one i'll post some piccis

its just these rear seatbelts that are bugging me at the moment

regards Garry

posted in wrong section please ignore

regards garry 'n' wanda

Hi,

Take care.

This vehicle is nearly 20 years old so will have had lots of history and use. Can you imagine what a shed would be like after 20 years and that has'nt been driven down the road.

It therefore needs very carefull examination to check for corrosion and cracking of chassis members and damaged or leaking panelling and seams. Then the mechanical parts such as engine, gearbox, transmission and brakes need checking by an experienced engineer.

Then internal equipment such as the oven, fridge and furnishings need close examination because it may be impossible to obtain spares for this vintage.

Dont rely on the promise of guarantees or warranties. If you look on these pages you will see numerous cases where the dealer has welched or someone has been sold a dud.

You want your money to buy you happiness and contentment so spend it on something newer that is sound and within your budget like a folding camper.

Why dont you also hire a motorcaravan of the size you are considering to ensure you enjoy the concept before you buy. We had 3 but always found difficulty with transport once the vehicle was sited. They also were expensive when the cost was compared to the time we used them.

mmm....... your points have been taken in although we have done the the tent to trailer tent folding camper even caravan it just seems the logical step the next generation if you like we have ended up buying a much newer van 6 years newer infact and have gone for a base vehichle with more how can i say easier parts to source ( fiat ducato )

Not that there is anything wrong with folding campers, as you mentioned, because iv'e already been there and done that "so too speak" I my self would feel I was down gradeing ( that is to say that I DO NOT look down on anyone who has them cos they are fantastic ) as are all abodes of camping/caravaning/motorhoming

its all about getting out there and chilling out and doing as little as possible and with a motorhome there's a lot less setting up involved

also if you have ever towed in France you will find it not a pleasant thing with all those french truck drivers driving so close you actually feel like you towing them as well so with a motor home it would be a lot easier